LibDems, Labour and Greens in Harrogate district consider collaboration

Informal discussions could take place between the local Liberal Democrat, Labour and Green parties about working together.

The move follows Conservative Matt Scott’s victory in last week’s Bilton and Nidd Gorge by-election.

Arnold Warneken, who represented Harrogate and District Green Party, told the Stray Ferret he had approached the Liberal Democrats and Labour about setting up a meeting.

Mr Warneken said co-operation “made sense” and he hoped some form of progressive alliance would emerge.

Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Harrogate Borough Council, said collaboration with other parties was “a discussion that needs to be had” and she was open-minded on the subject.

Cllr Marsh described the loss of the seat on North Yorkshire County Council formally held by the Liberal Democrat Geoff Webber as “a huge shock and disappointment”.

Asked why she felt voters had turned against the Liberal Democrats, she said:

“I have no idea. With all the sleaze and cronyism taking place and I am at a total loss to understand why anyone still votes for the Conservatives.”

Asked if she would consider her position as leader following the by-election defeat, she said she had been re-elected two weeks ago and intended to carry on.

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Margaret Smith, chair of Harrogate and Knaresborough Labour Party, said it was not averse to discussions but its ability to enter into any formal arrangement with other parties would be determined by the national Labour Party. She said:

“It’s about building a progressive alternative and when we agree on issues we would like to work with anyone, irrespective of party membership or support.

“It is a matter of building coalitions, issue by issue, where we agree.”

The Stray Ferret asked Cllr Scott, who won 43 per cent of the vote in Bilton and Nidd Gorge, why he felt voters had switched to the Conservatives and what was top of his agenda but he declined to answer.

 

 

Council needs to urgently address £632,000 staff payments, say Lib Dems

The leader of the Liberal Democrats on Harrogate Borough Council has said the authority needs to look urgently at its payout packages to staff after auditors recommended a rethink on how they are agreed.

It was revealed in the council’s statement of accounts that it had paid out £632,000 in exit packages in the past two years.

A report from independent auditors Mazars recommended a review on how payments, including redundancy cash and compensation for loss of office, are agreed for departing members of staff.

The borough council said it would carry out a review but added that the current process already ensured there is a “clear rationale” for the payments which are “properly authorised”.

Cllr Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition on the borough council, said the authority needed to look “urgently” at its process.

She said:

“The council needs to address this urgently.

“It is public money and I think members should understand and leaders of groups should understand about the payments and how they are made.

“It is a lot of money for us to pay out.”

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Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Harrogate and Knaresborough Labour Party said:

“Compensation for loss of office or employment payments are complex.

“I am sure the proposed review by the council will look into any of  these type of payments made recently. I would suggest that In future for such cases, at least two signatories are required within the structure and that one is the chief executive, if the suggested payment is a five figure sum or above.”

It comes after figures published in the council’s annual statement of accounts showed £354,000 was paid out to 19 former employees in 2019/2020 – an increase from the previous financial year when £278,000 was agreed for 15 staff.

Among the payments was £55,065 to Paul Campbell, the council’s former director of community who left suddenly last March.

Mazars has warned the current process, which sees payments signed off by a monitoring officer, risks a lack of balance between “inappropriate expenditure” and “allowing ineffective employment relationships to continue”.

In its report, auditors recommended that any payment should be signed off by elected councillors.

In a statement to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a spokesperson for the authority said:

“The council’s constitution currently provides for delegated approval by the monitoring officer for settlement agreements.

“Although the number of cases are relatively small, we will review the process in line with the audit recommendation.”

Lib Dem crime candidate: More frontline police needed

More police are needed on the frontline to help people feel safe, says the Liberal Democrat candidate for North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

James Barker, who is a City of York councillor, said he wanted to “explore why” more officers are not on the streets, if elected to the role.

Voters will go to the polls on May 6 to elect a successor to Julia Mulligan. There will also be candidates standing for the Conservative and Labour parties as well as an independent.

Mr Barker, who served 24 years in the military, has served as a scout leader and rugby coach.

More frontline officers

Mr Barker said North Yorkshire is not served equally by police and more frontline officers are needed to keep people safe.

He said as commissioner he would look to free up more police to be on the streets.

Mr Barker said:

“We are England’s largest county but not everyone is truly represented. How often do you see a copper?

“I want to explore reasons why we cannot get more coppers on the streets. I want to try and release more to the frontline.”

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Mr Barker added he would also look into the 101 non-emergency number service. He said he wanted to improve the response of the service after residents complained that it often “left them hanging” and on hold.

Make Ripon “less attractive” for anti-social behaviour

Mr Barker said he would look at working with social services, youth offending teams, the police and other organisations to look at making Ripon “less attractive” for anti-social behaviour.

The city has been blighted by crime in recent months with cannabis farms found on an industrial estate and five incidents in one three-hour spree earlier in February, including a robbery, thefts and reports of a man carrying a machete.

Mr Barker said the problem needed to be “nipped at the lowest form” before it got worse.

When pressed on how his solution would solve the problem when the police had already committed resources to the city, he said he would want to do more.

He said:

“I would want to look at what exactly is being allocated in terms of resources and what we can do more and what we can do better.”

The current Pateley Bridge police station on King Street in the town. Picture: Nidderdale AONB.

The Pateley Bridge police station on King Street in the town, which was closed. Picture: Nidderdale AONB.

Police stations

When asked if he would continue the policy of closing police stations to save money, Mr Barker said there would be other avenues he would look at.

He described rural police stations as a “focal point of the community” and important for helping people feel safe.

It comes as North Yorkshire has seen a number of stations shut down. 

In the Harrogate district, Pateley Bridge police station was recently closed and staff moved across the road in an effort to save £19,000 a year.

Mr Barker said cuts to the police were “starting to bite deep” and that he may have to make some difficult decisions to save money.

He said:

“Some difficult decisions will need to be made. I’m happy to make difficult decisions, but I will not do it lightly.

“I will not do it without as much information as I could possibly have.”

Funding the fire service

Mr Barker said the commissioner’s office needed to look “long and hard” at why North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue was underfunded.

Mulligan, the current police, fire and crime commissioner, said recently that the county’s fire service is among the worst funded in the country.

The government set a 2% cap on any increase to the fire precept for 2021/22. Anything above that amount would require a referendum.

However, the police precept threshold was set much higher at £15 – which means more scope for income for the force.

When asked how he would solve the underfunding of the fire service, Mr Barker said the commissioner’s office needed to look at what it could do about the service’s finances.

He said: 

“I wish I had a magic chequebook that I could whip out overnight. 

“But, again, it comes to looking long and hard at why the underfunding has happened and what we can do about it.”

He suggested that the commissioner could look at ways of helping towns which are underserved, such as sharing appliances with other fire services.

The following candidates so far have announced they are standing for election as commissioner:

The final list of nominations will be published on April 9. The deadline to register to vote in the May elections is April 19. You can register to vote here.

Tomorrow, the Stray Ferret will feature an interview with Labour Party candidate, Alison Hume.

North Yorks police commissioner candidate urges MPs to oppose police bill

The Liberal Democrat candidate for North Yorkshire police commissioner has called on the county’s MPs to vote against the government’s police bill.

James Barker, a City of York councillor who is standing for commissioner at the elections in May, described the legislation as “draconian”.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill includes measures for noise limits on protests, stronger powers for police to break up “unauthorised encampments” and longer sentences for serious crimes.

MPs will vote the legislation, which is at its second reading, tonight.

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Mr Barker said the right to protest was a “fundamental part” of democracy and called on MPs to oppose the bill.

He said:

“The bill contains some proposals that are worthy of support, such as maximum sentences for low-level assaults against emergency service workers being doubled to two years and community sentences for less serious crime to help address underlying problems in offenders’ lives, but the government has got it badly wrong in trying to stifle people’s freedom to protest.

“The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental part of any functioning democracy. 

“The police already have extensive powers in this area and I am concerned that what is being proposed in this bill will impact on people’s freedom of speech and right to protest. For this reason I am therefore calling on North Yorkshire’s MPs to oppose this bill.”

Voters in the Harrogate district will go to the polls on May 6 to elect a new police, fire and crime commissioner for North Yorkshire.

Julia Mulligan, who currently holds the role, will not be standing for re-election.

The main political parties have confirmed candidates as follows:

The deadline to register to vote in the May elections is April 19. You can register to vote here.

‘A costly PR stunt’: calls for an inquiry into Harrogate Nightingale

A senior politician from Ripon has described the Harrogate Nightingale as a “costly PR stunt”, amid calls for an inquiry.

Lord Newby’s criticism comes after NHS England said this week the hospital, which cost £27 million to set up, would be decommissioned at the end of the month.

It has not treated a single covid patient, prompting calls for an inquiry.

Lord Newby, the Liberal Democrat leader in the House of Lords, who lives in Ripon, said:

“The Nightingales were a costly PR stunt.

“They could never be used as planned because there was never the staffing for them. They were introduced because the government was desperate to be seen to be responding effectively to the pandemic, which at the time looked to be potentially out of control.

“The Harrogate Nightingale should have been closed months ago, in order to avoid the high cost of maintenance and so that Harrogate could begin to plan for its reopening.”

Jim Clark, a Conservative who represents Harrogate Harlow on Harrogate Borough Council, repeated his

call for an inquiry on BBC Look North yesterday.

He told the programme:

“It wasn’t an insurance policy in Harrogate because we didn’t have the staff to man it and I think it’s then been discovered that as soon as it was built it wasn’t essentially fit for purpose.”

The Stray Ferret asked Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones and Richard Cooper, leader of the Conservative-controlled Harrogate Borough Council whether they supported calls for an inquiry. Neither replied.

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Asked the same question on Look North, Cllr Cooper said the location of the Nightingale Hospitals was likely to be considered as part of a wider covid inquiry. He added:

“But we’ve been pleased to host the Nightingale and to host the thousands of diagnostic tests that have been carried out there.”

Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Harrogate Borough Council, supported calls for an inquiry, adding:

“Over a decade of Conservative cuts has led to an NHS operating on a shoestring. Whether there was ever the staff to run such a Nightingale hospital, should it have been toward full capacity, needs to be made clear.”

Margaret Smith, chair of Harrogate and Knaresborough Labour Party, said the Nightingales were “a legitimate insurance policy” in the early days of covid when it seemed hospitals could be overwhelmed. She added:

“There seems little point in wasting any more public money on an inquiry at this stage.”

 

Chancellor’s budget does not go far enough, say opposition parties

Opposition political parties in the Harrogate district have said the Chancellor’s budget does not go far enough to help businesses, NHS staff and the climate.

In his Budget statement today, Rishi Sunak extended the furlough scheme and announced extensions to the business rates holiday and 5% VAT cut for hospitality and tourism.

He unveiled an extra £400 million in grants for the arts sector and £5 billion in financial support for high street shops and other businesses.

But, Cllr Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Harrogate Borough Council, said the budget did not go far enough to help businesses and the future of the high street.

Cllr Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Harrogate Borough Council.

Cllr Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Harrogate Borough Council.

Cllr Marsh said:

“The Future High Streets Fund needs to be expanded to help more than the 72 areas already in receipt, far below what is actually needed in England. Our towns need help to recover from the pandemic and need help to deliver ambitious regeneration plans.

“Maybe the Chancellor could make it as easy as possible for entrepreneurs to set up on the high street, by offering grants for low-cost incubation space and business support for start-ups.

“Temporary pop-up units should be available for start-ups to trial new products and services without being tied to long rents. This is about investing in our future.”

Meanwhile, the Harrogate and Knaresborough Labour Party said businesses may still find it difficult to balance the books during furlough.

Margaret Smith, chair of the local Labour Party, said it welcomed the extension to the scheme but added that some firms, such as pubs and restaurants, will find it tough once they have to contribute towards furlough.

She said:

“Businesses within those specific sectors, having to contribute towards furlough payments of 10% from July and 20% in August and September, might still find balancing the books extremely difficult. The impact on employers has a knock-on impact on employees.

“Therefore, unemployment is expected sadly to increase even more. The increase in Universal Credit by £20 per week is also only being extended for six months so the autumn does not bode well for a significant number of people.

“Although furlough has been extended, the Labour Party thinks it would have made more sense for it to have been targeted on firms that actually need it – “smart furlough” and made it conditional on firms signing up to industrial and environmental standards and with greater support for training built in.

“In addition, what is significantly missing from today’s Budget is any reward for key workers such as NHS staff.”

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Shan Oakes, chair of the Harrogate and District Green Party, said there was nothing to support the climate or biodiversity in the budget.

She said:

“First, we welcome any measures which genuinely help those who have been hit socially or economically by covid. This must be a priority. But I can see nothing in support of biodiversity, nature, or the climate.

“We would hope for encouragement for green business initiatives at the very least, but there’s nothing at all here, just green investments and yet another green bank, as we have seen before, but we do hope they do mean something this time. We should be focusing on helping grassroots with green initiatives that benefit communities.”

The Stray Ferret contacted the district’s Conservative MPs Andrew Jones, Julian Smith and Nigel Adams for comment, but none responded by the time of publication.

We also contacted the Conservative leader of Harrogate Borough Council, Cllr Richard Cooper, but did not receive a response.

Plea for free staff parking at Harrogate hospital

Councillors have unanimously supported a plea for free staff parking at Harrogate District Hospital.

Staff pay up to £1,300 a year to park at the hospital, which suspended charges during the first lockdown.

Charges were reinstated on September 23 and have continued to apply since.

North Yorkshire County Council yesterday unanimously supported a Liberal Democrat motion calling for NHS hospital trusts to provide free parking for staff during the covid crisis.

However, this does not mean it will happen.

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The decision is down to Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital. It has not indicated that it plans to discontinue fees.

Liberal Democrat county councillor Geoff Webber, who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge, moved the proposal, which said:

“That this council makes known to all NHS hospital trusts in North Yorkshire that this council supports and encourages free on-site parking for frontline NHS staff at their place of work for the duration that covid places a strain on the NHS.”

Cllr Webber said:

“I am delighted that this proposal has received unanimous and cross-party support.

“It is the least we can do to show our appreciation to the front-line NHS staff who daily put their lives at risk for the community.”

The Stray Ferret asked Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust whether it supported the motion or had any plans to suspend parking fees but had not received a response by the time of publication.

The parking fee situation in the Harrogate district is currently confused.

Harrogate Borough Council, which controls off-street parking, has suspended charges.

But North Yorkshire County Council, which controls on-street parking, continues to charge.

 

 

 

Lib Dems call for ‘secret devolution report’ to be published

Liberal Democrats have called on Harrogate Borough Council to release a “secret report” into the district’s devolution bid and council reorganisation.

The seven district councils commissioned KPMG to produce a report into council reorganisation in the county ahead of a submission to government.

Council leaders announced their preference for two authorities, split between east and west, in August, and showcased the proposal at online consultation events with businesses and residents.

Local Lib Dems said they have asked “several times” for the document – funded with taxpayers’ money – to be made public.

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Cllr Pat Marsh, Lib Dem leader of the opposition on the borough council, called on the authority to release the document.

She said:

“Liberal Democrats have called on Harrogate Borough Council to release its KPMG report several times now. If Conservatives aren’t going to consult with residents on the future of local services, the very least they can do is be transparent about how decisions are being made.

“Unfortunately this is typical of our Conservative-run council. It won’t speak to residents or their elected representatives about huge issues like this, and when it does it is telling them what is happening at the eleventh hour, rather allowing any input. It would appear that Richard Cooper would rather rule by decree than risk hearing a differing view.”

A spokesman on behalf of the district and borough council leaders said:

“The leaders of the seven district and borough councils in North Yorkshire commissioned KPMG to support the development of a business case for local government reorganisation should we be required to respond to government to submit a proposal.

“When completed the report will need to be agreed by elected members within all seven councils before it is submitted to government and full details will be published.”

It comes as the government had been due to publish its devolution white paper in the Autumn, which would have outlined its plans to devolve further powers to local areas and scrap district councils.

However, ministers have since appeared to have delayed publishing the plans until next year, according to the Financial Times.

Last week, Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, wrote to Secretary of State, Robert Jenrick, urging the government for clarity on the white paper.

But, district leaders said there was “no worse time” to reorganise local government. The seven district council leaders, including Richard Cooper, wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging him to focus on fighting the covid-19 crisis.

New leader ‘could help win back Harrogate & Knaresborough’, say Lib Dems

Sir Ed Davey’s victory in the Liberal Democrat leadership contest could help the party take back control of Harrogate & Knaresborough, according to the party’s local parliamentary spokesperson Judith Rogerson.

Mr Davey, the MP for Kingston and Surbiton, won the leadership election yesterday ahead of Layla Moran, receiving 63.5% of the vote. In his acceptance speech, he said the party would now launch a “national listening project” to try and win back voters.

Ms Rogerson said Mr Davey has been “very supportive” of what the party has been doing in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

She said:

“He is absolutely the right person to be leading the party and helping us win back seats from the Conservatives at the next election, especially here in Harrogate & Knaresborough.”

Under Phil Willis – now Lord Willis of Knaresborough – the Lib Dems held the Harrogate & Knaresborough constituency from 1997 until 2010. Last month, Lord Willis spoke to the Stray Ferret about a range of topics, including what he think makes a good constituency MP.

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Since Lord Willis retired, current Conservative MP Andrew Jones has won four consecutive general elections in the constituency.

In the 2019 general election, Mr Jones won 29,962 votes beating Lib Dem candidate Ms Rogerson by almost 10,000 votes. The Lib Dems did gain a 12 point swing since 2017, which largely came at the expense of the Labour Party.

Harrogate Lib Dems campaign to abandon plans for devolution

Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats have launched a petition today calling for plans of a mega council and executive mayor to be abandonded.

The “Hands Off Harrogate” campaign argues that the district should make its own decisions and run its own services.

It also says that councillors as far away as Scarborough would be “out of touch” with concerns in the Harrogate district.

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Councillors from the local Lib Dems have urged residents to sign the petition on their website.

Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“Harrogate Conservatives are too busy fighting one another to stand up for residents in our district, with council leader Richard Cooper writing articles in the press, criticising his Tory colleagues. At such a difficult time, with many residents really suffering from the effects of coronavirus, do we really need to be going through a massive local government reorganisation that could cost taxpayers millions and disrupt vital local services?”

Cllr Marsh also called for Andrew Jones to “stand up for our area” on devolution. The MP has yet to comment publicly on the proposals.

Judith Rogerson, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson, added:

“Nobody in Harrogate and Knaresborough will think a huge new council is acceptable. If we have to have local government reorganisation the most sensible solution would be to create a unitary council covering just the present Harrogate district. There are similar sized authorities in other parts of Yorkshire & the Humber.”